Plein Air St. Charles 2026
Organization:
St. Charles Arts Council
Location
St. Charles, IL
Entry Fee
Paid Entry
Deadline
April 24, 2026
Exhibition
Aug 17
- Aug 23, 2026
PLEIN AIR-ST. CHARLES, August 17-23, 2026
ARTIST PROSPECTUS
Registration and Artist Selection:
Registration is open to all artists 18 years of age and above.
Entry Fee: $65 which must be included with registration. This fee entitles artists to participate in all events (Main Event, Quick Paint, Nocturne), attendance at Monday Night Welcome Party, and entrance to the Grand Reveal Party on August 22. This entry fee is non-refundable.
Registration Deadline is April 24, 2026.
Up to 70 artists will be accepted to participate.
Confirmation of acceptance will be made via email by May 8, 2026.
Apply and pay at: www.stcharlesartscouncil.org
Check-in and Stamping:
Monday, August 17, 9:00 a.m. – 3 p.m
Event headquarters: St. Charles Arts Council, 121 N. 2nd Street (IL Route 31), Suite H, St. Charles IL 60174. Canvases can also be stamped throughout the week between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the event headquarters.
There will be a Welcome Party for all participating artists on Monday, August 17 at 6:00 p.m. Location to be announced at a later date.
Guidelines for All Paintings Submitted for Judging or Sale:
Painting boundaries-
All painting should take place in the Tri-Cities area. You are encouraged to paint anywhere along the Fox River, in our beautiful parks, or in downtown St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia which all enjoy interesting architectural buildings. The area around St. Charles is also home to beautiful horse farms, a Japanese Garden, unique houses and prairie land.
In the spirit of plein air, 95% of each painting must be created on site. No painting from photographs or from images on mobile devices, even on location.
Up to 4 artworks may be submitted for judging for awards.
Media may include: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel or gouache.
Each work submitted must be framed. Maximum frame width: 4 ¼ inches.
Maximum mat width (mat is optional): 4 inches.
Unframed dimensions will be accepted up to 324 sq. inches.
As a guideline, this will accommodate standard painting sizes up to 16 x 20 inches or 18 x 18 inches.
Paintings must be securely wired for hanging; no saw tooth hangers.
All paintings must be date stamped at event check-in. Stamp must be visible on the back of each painting
Artists will provide a submission form for each painting submitted (also included in Artist Packet) with the artist's name, title or location of painting, medium, and price.
If your artwork sells, you may have additional artwork to fill vacant spaces. If you would like to submit additional artwork, you must fill out a submission form for that artwork also (so we can create a wall card to have on hand if that artwork is displayed for sale).
****Prices may not be changed after submission, and there will be no negotiating prices at the sale.****
Quick Paint: (Wednesday, August 19)
Location: Pottawatomie Park. Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Check in at 10 a.m.
Artists are encouraged but not required to participate in this event.
This event will be open to local artists who have not registered for Plein Air – St. Charles. Their fee to enter will be $20.
Artwork will be judged on site, and prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the Quick Paint event.
You may NOT use your Quick Paint painting as one of your 4 submissions for judging on Saturday. However, there will be space provided for you to exhibit and SELL your Quick Paint entry.
Nocturne:
A Nocturne painting may be painted any evening between August 17 and August 21.
Artists will be responsible for declaring a painting as “Nocturne” when submitting the painting for judging.
This event is not required of artists. Awards will be given at the Grand Reveal Party on August 22.
Artists reserve the right to label artworks painted at night as Nocturne to be judged for this specific category [only]. Artworks not labeled as Nocturne will be judged among the Main Event works.
Commissions:
The St. Charles Arts Council will retain 30% commission on all artworks sold.
Artist payments will be mailed to the address provided with your registration within 21 days of the last day of the event.
Off easel sales – All off easel sales must submit a 30% commission to the St. Charles Arts Council by Sunday August 23, 2026. We thank you for respecting the efforts of the St. Charles Arts Council & Plein Air Committee.
Awards:
$5,000 in prizes will be awarded
$1,000 – Best in Show
$750 – 2nd place
$500 – 3rd place
$600 – Nocturne 1st place
$400 – Nocturne 2nd place
$300 – Best Riverscape painting
$300 – Best Architecture painting
$600 – Quick Paint 1st place
$400 – Quick Paint 2nd place
$150 - towards Honorable Mentions to be awarded as deemed appropriate by the Plein Air Judge.
Awards (other than the Quick Paint Awards) will be presented at our Grand Reveal Party on Saturday, August 22, 2026. This event will take place at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. 2nd Street, St. Charles IL.
Grand Reveal Party –
Saturday, August 22, 6-9 p.m. at the Baker Community Center
Paintings will be dropped off for judging at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. 2nd Street (Route 31), St. Charles IL on Saturday, August 22 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Each artist may submit up to 4 paintings for judging. These 4 paintings must be independent from your Quick Paint entry. Quick Paint entries will be for sale at the Saturday event but will not be judged.
When one of your paintings sells, you may fill the vacant space with another painting so long as the painting was created during the current Plein Air week.
All artwork will be on sale at this ticketed event.
Artists are REQUIRED to attend this event to meet and greet the public.
Sunday Sales – Sunday, August 23 from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. at the Baker Community Center
Artwork is available to the public for sale.
Unsold Painting Retrieval
Unsold paintings may be picked up on Sunday, August 23 from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Baker Community Center, 101 S. 2nd Street, St. Charles.
Paintings left behind will become the property of the St. Charles Arts Council.
Artists that would like to exhibit their unsold paintings in one of the St. Charles Arts Council’s galleries may bring their work to the ARC on Sunday, August 23 from 3 p.m. -4 p.m. Paintings that have not sold must be picked up by September 23; no artwork will be shipped.
Artist Liability and Certifications - By registering for this event, you have agreed to the terms below:
I agree to bear all risk and expense for loss, theft, or damage to my paintings or other personal property, and for injury to my person, regardless of cause.
I indemnify and hold harmless the St. Charles Arts Council from and against any claim, suit, action, liability, or expense arising out of any matter which would result from using images of myself or my paintings for publicity for Plein Air-St. Charles.
I agree to give the St. Charles Arts Council full license to use images from this event and/or make prints of the Best in Show winners, in any form, for the purpose of promoting Plein Air-St. Charles.
Contact Information
Sharon Powers, Executive Director Cell: 630.443.3794
[email protected]
Karen Porter, Events Coordinator
Cell: 630.269.6938
[email protected]
Sue McDowell, SCAC Board President
Cell: 630.609.5758
[email protected]
ARTIST PROSPECTUS
Registration and Artist Selection:
Registration is open to all artists 18 years of age and above.
Entry Fee: $65 which must be included with registration. This fee entitles artists to participate in all events (Main Event, Quick Paint, Nocturne), attendance at Monday Night Welcome Party, and entrance to the Grand Reveal Party on August 22. This entry fee is non-refundable.
Registration Deadline is April 24, 2026.
Up to 70 artists will be accepted to participate.
Confirmation of acceptance will be made via email by May 8, 2026.
Apply and pay at: www.stcharlesartscouncil.org
Check-in and Stamping:
Monday, August 17, 9:00 a.m. – 3 p.m
Event headquarters: St. Charles Arts Council, 121 N. 2nd Street (IL Route 31), Suite H, St. Charles IL 60174. Canvases can also be stamped throughout the week between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the event headquarters.
There will be a Welcome Party for all participating artists on Monday, August 17 at 6:00 p.m. Location to be announced at a later date.
Guidelines for All Paintings Submitted for Judging or Sale:
Painting boundaries-
All painting should take place in the Tri-Cities area. You are encouraged to paint anywhere along the Fox River, in our beautiful parks, or in downtown St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia which all enjoy interesting architectural buildings. The area around St. Charles is also home to beautiful horse farms, a Japanese Garden, unique houses and prairie land.
In the spirit of plein air, 95% of each painting must be created on site. No painting from photographs or from images on mobile devices, even on location.
Up to 4 artworks may be submitted for judging for awards.
Media may include: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel or gouache.
Each work submitted must be framed. Maximum frame width: 4 ¼ inches.
Maximum mat width (mat is optional): 4 inches.
Unframed dimensions will be accepted up to 324 sq. inches.
As a guideline, this will accommodate standard painting sizes up to 16 x 20 inches or 18 x 18 inches.
Paintings must be securely wired for hanging; no saw tooth hangers.
All paintings must be date stamped at event check-in. Stamp must be visible on the back of each painting
Artists will provide a submission form for each painting submitted (also included in Artist Packet) with the artist's name, title or location of painting, medium, and price.
If your artwork sells, you may have additional artwork to fill vacant spaces. If you would like to submit additional artwork, you must fill out a submission form for that artwork also (so we can create a wall card to have on hand if that artwork is displayed for sale).
****Prices may not be changed after submission, and there will be no negotiating prices at the sale.****
Quick Paint: (Wednesday, August 19)
Location: Pottawatomie Park. Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Check in at 10 a.m.
Artists are encouraged but not required to participate in this event.
This event will be open to local artists who have not registered for Plein Air – St. Charles. Their fee to enter will be $20.
Artwork will be judged on site, and prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the Quick Paint event.
You may NOT use your Quick Paint painting as one of your 4 submissions for judging on Saturday. However, there will be space provided for you to exhibit and SELL your Quick Paint entry.
Nocturne:
A Nocturne painting may be painted any evening between August 17 and August 21.
Artists will be responsible for declaring a painting as “Nocturne” when submitting the painting for judging.
This event is not required of artists. Awards will be given at the Grand Reveal Party on August 22.
Artists reserve the right to label artworks painted at night as Nocturne to be judged for this specific category [only]. Artworks not labeled as Nocturne will be judged among the Main Event works.
Commissions:
The St. Charles Arts Council will retain 30% commission on all artworks sold.
Artist payments will be mailed to the address provided with your registration within 21 days of the last day of the event.
Off easel sales – All off easel sales must submit a 30% commission to the St. Charles Arts Council by Sunday August 23, 2026. We thank you for respecting the efforts of the St. Charles Arts Council & Plein Air Committee.
Awards:
$5,000 in prizes will be awarded
$1,000 – Best in Show
$750 – 2nd place
$500 – 3rd place
$600 – Nocturne 1st place
$400 – Nocturne 2nd place
$300 – Best Riverscape painting
$300 – Best Architecture painting
$600 – Quick Paint 1st place
$400 – Quick Paint 2nd place
$150 - towards Honorable Mentions to be awarded as deemed appropriate by the Plein Air Judge.
Awards (other than the Quick Paint Awards) will be presented at our Grand Reveal Party on Saturday, August 22, 2026. This event will take place at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. 2nd Street, St. Charles IL.
Grand Reveal Party –
Saturday, August 22, 6-9 p.m. at the Baker Community Center
Paintings will be dropped off for judging at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. 2nd Street (Route 31), St. Charles IL on Saturday, August 22 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Each artist may submit up to 4 paintings for judging. These 4 paintings must be independent from your Quick Paint entry. Quick Paint entries will be for sale at the Saturday event but will not be judged.
When one of your paintings sells, you may fill the vacant space with another painting so long as the painting was created during the current Plein Air week.
All artwork will be on sale at this ticketed event.
Artists are REQUIRED to attend this event to meet and greet the public.
Sunday Sales – Sunday, August 23 from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. at the Baker Community Center
Artwork is available to the public for sale.
Unsold Painting Retrieval
Unsold paintings may be picked up on Sunday, August 23 from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Baker Community Center, 101 S. 2nd Street, St. Charles.
Paintings left behind will become the property of the St. Charles Arts Council.
Artists that would like to exhibit their unsold paintings in one of the St. Charles Arts Council’s galleries may bring their work to the ARC on Sunday, August 23 from 3 p.m. -4 p.m. Paintings that have not sold must be picked up by September 23; no artwork will be shipped.
Artist Liability and Certifications - By registering for this event, you have agreed to the terms below:
I agree to bear all risk and expense for loss, theft, or damage to my paintings or other personal property, and for injury to my person, regardless of cause.
I indemnify and hold harmless the St. Charles Arts Council from and against any claim, suit, action, liability, or expense arising out of any matter which would result from using images of myself or my paintings for publicity for Plein Air-St. Charles.
I agree to give the St. Charles Arts Council full license to use images from this event and/or make prints of the Best in Show winners, in any form, for the purpose of promoting Plein Air-St. Charles.
Contact Information
Sharon Powers, Executive Director Cell: 630.443.3794
[email protected]
Karen Porter, Events Coordinator
Cell: 630.269.6938
[email protected]
Sue McDowell, SCAC Board President
Cell: 630.609.5758
[email protected]